ACTIVISM

INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY

8TH MARCH

International Women's Day (IWD) is celebrated on 8th March across the world. IWD is a global day celebrating the economic, political and social achievements of women in the past, present and future. It is a day when women are recognised for their achievements, regardless of divisions, whether national, ethnic, linguistic, cultural, economic or political.

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE REMEMBRANCE CEREMONY

1ST WEDNESDAY IN MAY

As part of the Domestic Violence Prevention Month activities a special candle lighting ceremony is held each year to remember those who have died and the ones left behind due to domestic and family violence.

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE PREVENTION MONTH

MAY

Domestic and Family Violence Prevention Month is an annual event held each May to raise community awareness of the social and personal impacts of domestic and family violence and the support available to those affected. The key aims of the month are to:

raise community awareness of domestic and family violence and its impacts;

promote a clear message of no tolerance of domestic and family violence in Queensland communities;

ensure those who are experiencing domestic and family violence know how to access help and support;

encourage people who use abuse and/or violence to take responsibility for their abusive behaviour and seek support to change.

SEXUAL VIOLENCE AWARENESS MONTH

OCTOBER

Sexual Violence Awareness Month is held each October to encourage Queenslanders to show their support for ending violence of this nature and inform those affected about the help available. Sexual Violence Awareness Week began in 1996 as an initiative of the Gold Coast Centre Against Sexual Violence. By 1998 it had become Sexual Violence Awareness Month and had spread throughout Queensland, co-ordinated by Sexual Assault Services in various regions.

For further information contact the Gold Coast Centre for Sexual Violence on (07) 5591 1164 or go to:

WHITE RIBBON CAMPAIGN

White Ribbon is an organisation working to prevent all forms of male violence towards women.

White Ribbon believes:

the prevention of violence against women will change society for the better;

individuals have the capacity to change and to encourage change in others;

our generation can and must work towards stopping men's violence against women.

White Ribbon works to change the attitudes and behaviours that lead to men's violence against women. It does this through a range of primary prevention initiatives and the annual White Ribbon Campaign. The White Ribbon Campaign is now the largest global male-led movement to stop violence against women.

For more information about White Ribbon or to get involved click here:

16 DAYS OF ACTIVISM AGAINST GENDER VIOLENCE

25 NOVEMBER - 10 DECEMBER

The 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence is an international campaign which was initiated by the Women's Global Leadership Institute in 1991. Since then over 2000 organisations in 154 countries have participated in the campaign. The campaign commences each year on 25th November - International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women - and concludes on 10th December - International Human Rights Day.

The 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence campaign is used as a platform for a range of activities by individuals and groups around the world to call for the elimination of all forms of violence against women. The campaign:

raises awareness about gender-based violence as a human rights issue at local, national, regional and international levels;

strengthens local work addressing violence against women;

establishes a clear link between local and international work to end violence against women;

provides a forum in which organisers can develop and share new and effective strategies; and

creates tools to pressure governments to implement promises made to eliminate violence against women.

UNiTE CAMPAIGN ORANGE DAY

25TH DAY OF EVERY MONTH

Launched in 2008, the United Nations Secretary-General's UNiTE to End Violence against Women campaign aims to raise public awareness and increase political will and resources for preventing and ending all forms of violence against women and girls in all parts of the world.

In July 2012 the campaign proclaimed every 25th of the month as "Orange Day" - a day to take action to raise awareness and prevent violence against women and girls. Initiated and led by the UNiTE campaign Global Youth Network, Orange Day calls upon activists, governments and UN partners to mobilise people and highlight issues relevant to preventing and ending violence against women and girls, not only once a year, on 25th November (International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women) but every month.

THURSDAYS IN BLACK

Thursdays in Black is an international movement. People across the globe wear black each Thursday as a way of protesting against gender-based violence and gender discrimination. "Together we stand in solidarity with victims of violence and discrimination demanding a fairer world for all."

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